The Gladiator-class light cruiser was a class of light cruisers utilised by the United Nations Space Command, which served between 2617 and 2678 and saw major action during the Swarm War. The class was initially conceived during the Human-Covenant War as a replacement for the aging Halcyon-class light cruiser, to fill the capability gap between the UNSC's heavy destroyers and the Marathon-class cruiser. The design was eventually shelved in favour of increased Marathon production, and it was only when UNSC designers revisited the plans in 2611 that work began on the Gladiator-class in earnest. Introduced in 2617, during a time of increasing galactic tension, the class served through the Galactic War just five years into its service. In 2633, immediately after this, vessels of the class part